Have a Beautiful Weekend

This will be the first weekend that David and I won't be in a car! Life has been interesting these past couple of months. And I don't need to explain that any further since life can be interesting for so many of you, especially this past week. So this weekend I made sure we could stay at home and restore ourselves. Soon enough, we'll be back in the car again picking up and dropping off the girls for Thanksgiving break. This weekend, we want more of this: Taking the dogs on a nice long walk in the woods, sipping a vanilla latte while browsing for books, and just plain relaxing. It's too bad that relaxing actually has to be scheduled, but if that's what it takes, that's what it takes.

I hope you all have a beautiful, restorative weekend as well. Here are some light-hearted video links for you to enjoy.

Wouldn't it be nice to start your day like this?

Is your a dog a picky eater too? Cute idea.

Have fun this holiday season. An oldie, but a goodie. In fact, any Ellen video should make you laugh. And I love Dennis Quaid.

Amanda loves Corgis! Do you know Ralph and his brother George? Every animal deserves a loving home.

This should put you in the holiday spirit!

And as a final note, I'd just like to acknowledge this post. Joanna has written a lovely post about her thoughts on current world events and blogging. It's never easy to know what to write sometimes, especially if you have very strong opinions about a subject. I tend to steer clear of potentially volatile subjects like politics and religion. As a lifestyle blogger, I may write about the rosy (and the sometimes not so rosy) aspects of life, but my hope is that you come here to seek comfort amidst all of the chaos life throws your way.

Xo

Have an Enjoyable Weekend!

Last weekend was all about the dogs and lacrosse and Easter and Kate's birthday. This weekend, the only thing we have on our agenda is to get Amanda's prom dress altered. Both David and Amanda are suffering through allergies/colds right now, so I'll make sure to keep the house warm, put on a pot of tea, and sit with them through countless hours of television while I revise my manual. And hopefully sit in the sun!

I hope your weekend is more exciting! In the meantime, here are some links you may enjoy...

15 great organizing tricks.

I enjoyed (and was inspired by) this video.

5 celebrity living rooms... would you live in any of these? I'll take Lauren Conrad's (Michelle Williams' is a close second.)

Read why this woman wears the exact same thing to work each day.

Writing is hard work. Will these tips help?

18 of the most charming small towns in America.

A word about the photos... Poor Cooper and Dante had to endure a couple of shots when we took them to a rabies clinic and where we also got them chipped. They got new harnesses for the occasion, but they weren't too happy. After it was all over, they got to run through the woods and then they took a nice long nap when we got home. Kate and David did I fine job of keeping them somewhat calm. No shots this weekend, boys!

Have a Happy Weekend

Did you know today is Love Your Pet Day? Well, these guys are sure to get extra love and attention this weekend. I've been teaching all week and the girls finally had a full week of school. However, David did sneak home a couple of times to check on them. AND, Kate is home this weekend so they'll be surrounded by even more love.

Poor Cooper has an ear infection so extra cuddling is necessary. Dante, on the other hand, has made friends with an elephant. He now drags this poor thing through the snow piles and into the house.

I hope you have a great weekend. We'll be dealing with damage control on our roof. Lots of snow and ice has turned into wet ceilings! However, we still might take in a movie or just watch the snow fall.....again. In the meantime, here are some links you may enjoy.

Are you a dog lover, too. Here are some Instagram accounts you may want to follow: Dogs of Instagram, Puppies for All, Nikita the Husky, Happee Betty, Don't Know Bo, 614 Husky Squad, All Things Husky, US Dog Lovers, Border Collies of Instagramm. (I know the list is a bit biased.)

Check out this family room makeover. It's filled with lots of color and texture. (This one might have too much color!)

17 quotes that will make you appreciate simple country pleasures.

New York Fashion Week through the eyes of the New York Times.

Are you watching the Oscars this weekend or hosting an Oscar party? Here are some menu ideas to inspire you.

Room arrangements explained. I totally agree.

And for all the cat lovers out there.

Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Since my two won't sit still for anything but a treat, I found this adorable photo of Bean and Nugget taken from A House in the Hills. (I'll be back to check out this blog more thoroughly, soon.) Dog lovers always seem to find each other.

Yesterday, Kate started to make dog treats, but unlike years before, she needed to find a new recipe for Dante. My husky has food allergies that we only found out about last year so she quickly adapted a simple recipe to accommodate his diet. The good news is that even dogs without allergies will enjoy them! (Here is my other recipe.)

Peanut Butter Dot Treats

2 cups gluten-free flour
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
2 tablespoons canola oil
3/4 cup water
Carob chips (optional)

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Mix together peanut butter, oil, and water in a large mixing bowl.
3.  Add water and mix together until dough forms. Add carob chips if desired
4.  Roll out dough until 1/4" thick. (A little thicker is okay too.)
5.  Use a cookie cutter to make individual treats. Any design will do.
6.  Place treats on a parchment paper lined pan or Silpat baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes
7.  Let cool.

Once they are cooled, store in an airtight container. (Treats are all natural so they will only last up to two weeks if kept in a cool, dry place.) Here is the first batch all cooled and ready to bag. Kate placed one lone carob chip on top of each bone to make them extra special. Place bones in a small ziplock bag before putting them in your gift container.

And this is how I wrap them up. I simply take brown paper lunch bags and stamp them with dog paws (the less perfect, the better) all over. I then place the baggie of bones inside and fold down the opening twice. I put two punch holes in the middle of the fold and thread either raffia or twine through the holes. I finish the whole thing off with some jingle bells. You could certainly add a tag if you'd like, but we opted to keep things simple for this batch.

Polar Plunge Doggie Style

Even though there is still some snow on the ground, spring is finally here. So yesterday afternoon, my husband asked if I wanted to take the dogs for a walk at the state park. I'm ashamed to say that I've been so cold this winter that our doggie walks dwindled considerably this year. My family is getting enough exercise, but I realized my dogs weren't. I've vowed to whip them back into shape even if I have to drag Cooper around on his leash. And he hates his leash. 

My daughters and their friends have been participating in a Polar Plunge. It's even made the papers due to the dangers of jumping into freezing water. Luckily, all of their friends have been smart about the plunge—making sure there are enough people on hand to help anyone who can't make it out, and staying away from strong currents. After I shot a bunch of pictures and video of the dogs yesterday, I thought it looked like they had participated in their own version. Dante (the husky) loves the water. Cooper does not. Dante is trying to coax him across the flooded grassy area just before you reach the beach. 

Cooper was hooked. He did it again and again. 

This was our walk to and from the beach. The sun hasn't gotten rid of all of the snow just yet and they couldn't pass up the chance to roll around in it again and again.

A few links for dog lovers...

Cooper and Dante's kennel stays are over. We finally have a dog-sitter! If you're looking to give your dog/pet a taste of home while you're away, check out DogVacay.

I could use these tips. I hate lugging around my good camera all the time, so my iPhone has been filling in. Check out these 10 tips for photographing your dog like I plan to.

Dogs welcoming soldiers home. Tissues might be a good idea.

Woman's best friend.

Marley and Me is one of the best dog movies you can see. (And the book is good, too.)

(Wo)Man's Best Friend

My doggies think I'm funny. They don't care how I look, if I showered this morning, or what I'm typing on the computer. They don't care if I make a lot of money, or drive a fancy car. What they do care about is if I'm willing to go for a walk or toss the ball, if I have treats ready and waiting when they come through the door, and who gets to snuggle closer on my bed. That goes for the lot of us. We are dog people.

My first dog was rescued from a pound when I was about 8-years-old. He was a German shepherd/collie mix that was mostly brown with droopy ears. We didn't know what to name him, so as we were driving home in my dad's Monte Carlo, my dad (or maybe it was mum), named him Monty. If I remember correctly, we had two other dogs come in and out of our lives during my childhood, a few cats too, but the dogs ruled. I couldn't wait to get a dog when I grew up. That day finally came when my son turned 5 and we got him a black lab/border collie mix for Christmas. Santa actually named him Smokey after another dog from my childhood—my aunt and uncle's loyal black lab. Both of them were great dogs and I can still remember everything about our Smokey. My son grew up with that dog and he will always hold a special place in our hearts.

I wasn't quite ready to replace Smokey, as if I could, but a friend of mine told me that the local shelter had just rescued a group of dogs from down south and one just happened to be a border collie. 

My husband and the girls had been talking about getting another dog for a while and kept quiet until I mentioned visiting the humane society just to "take a look". Who was I kidding? There he was, a tan and white bundle of energy that really wanted out of his room. So after spending the afternoon getting to know him, we took him home and a new chapter had begun. 

Cooper is a quiet dog, as most border collies are, but he has a unique way about him. He cuddles and snuggles, but on his terms. He's fiercely loyal and super smart (again, as most border collies are), and loves to tug on ropes.

Dante loves to hang out with us. No matter what we're doing, he wants in on the action. When we first rescued him, he wouldn't let me out of his sight. Siberian huskies have separation anxiety issues which I knew nothing about having never owned a husky before. If I left the house, he had to leave the house, so he went on a lot of car rides. Thank goodness I work mostly from home. He loves to run and he loves to just be with us. The colder the weather, the happier he is and don't let me get started about the snow—New Hampshire is the perfect place for him. 

The two dogs didn't get along at first. Cooper wanted nothing to do with him. I felt so bad for both of them. Dante just wanted to play all the time and Cooper wanted him out of the house—pronto. It took some time, but now they are brothers, although I think Cooper would still rather be the top dog.

Puppy Love

 

Cooper wants to know when he can come in. Dante wonders why he's complaining (again) about the snow. These are my two boys. It's funny, because when it was just the three of us—me, my husband, and our son—I always referred to them as my boys. Then our beloved Smokey came along, and I had three boys. That all changed of course when I had my two girls, then it was three to three. Fast forward sixteen years and my son is grown and married, my girls have one foot out the door, and we have two new dogs that we happened to rescue within two years of each other. Cooper is quiet, Dante is not. Both of them are very needy. They would rather have us home than not, especially Dante. In fact, if I've been gone for any length of time, I get chewed out the moment I walk through the door.  



Just before another storm hit yesterday, my husband and I readied the house with a hearth full of wood. The dogs helped us carry in a few pieces. As soon as Cooper's paws hit the snow, he usually wants in, but if we're outside with him, he's happy to hang out. Dante, on the other hand, would rather sit outside in a blizzard.



Some of the wood didn't make it into the house.

Here are a few things that you can spoil your canine children with.

All natural dog shampoo.

How to turn an old sweater into a new doggie coat.

Keep them busy on rainy (snowy) days.

33 dog toys you can make from things around the house.

Adorable dog bed ideas. We're seriously considering buying a twin-size bed for the two of them. (So we can have our king-size bed back!)

Please rescue or adopt a dog instead of buying one. Too many animals need loving homes.

The Call of the Wild

Halloween is on Monday, but it looks a lot like Christmas around here and more snow is on its way for the weekend. I'm planning on making a big pot of chili, some popcorn, and a (scary) chocolate cake, but what I really want to do is start singing carols. And this guy here - he refuses to come in the house. This is his first New Hampshire snowfall and he is truly in his element. After getting into a fight with a porcupine on Monday (and losing) he deserves to bound through the snow to his heart's delight.

The Dog Days of Summer

Meet Dante, the newest member of our family. He has been to the vet this month more than Cooper has been all year. Boosters, new shots, a few exams....finally he is cleared for take-off. My wonderful vet assures me that in a few months' time, Cooper will be okay and both dogs can give and receive love without World War III breaking out. (Please feel free to chime in if you have any advice.)

If you were to ask me just a short month ago if we would ever be a two dog family, my answer would have been an affirmative "heck no!". In fact, when David and I went to pick up some plants a while back, we saw an Australian Shepherd that caught our eye and he asked me if I was willing to give it a try. (Insert the "heck no!" here.) Well, the joke is certainly on me.

He is a complete love. Stay tuned. The adventure is just beginning.